Jewelry-display tray.



No. 702,853. Patented June I7, i902. .J. P. ANGELL.

JEWELRY DISPLAY TRAY.

(Application filed May 7, 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

f gl

j 2 ICF' q No. 702,853. Pafented lune I7, i902.

J. P. ANGELL. I

JEWELRY DISPLAY TRAY.

(Application filed May 7, 1900,)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOSEPH P. ANGELL, OF PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS.

JEWELRY-DISPLAY TRAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part lof Letters Patent No. 702,853, dated June 1 7, 1902.

Application tiled May 7, 1900.

To @ZZ whom, it 771,603/ concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH I. ANGELI., of Pine Bluff, in the county of Jefferson, and in the State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Jewelry-Display Trays; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had -to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of my jewelers tray. Fig. 2 is a detail-perspective of one lock mechanism, a key, and a ring separated. Fig. 3 is a bottom viewy of a lock. Fig. 4 is a section of Fig. 3 on the line o; rc, the ring and its holder being shown in engagement with the lock. Fig. is a section of Fig. 3 on the line y y, Vthe key being shown in engagement in the lock. Fig. G is a sectional view of my ring-holder. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of another embodiment of my locking mechanism; and Figs. 8 to 1l illustrate other embodiments of my invention.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

My invention has for its object to produce a display-tray for rings in which the rings shall be displayed to the greatest advantage, the whole of the ring being visible and light being reflected into the jewels from beneath, in which the rings shall be locked to the tray in such manner that when aring is removed the key by which such unlocking` is accomplished shall itself be locked in the tray and its removal prevented until the ring has been replaced g and to such ends myinvention consists in the display-tray for rings hereinafter specified.

In carrying my invention into practice a tray of any desired construction can. be employed-such, for example, one comprising an outer frame A and parallel cross-bars B and B. Any desired material can be used for the tray; but I prefer to use metal for-the bars B and B and to cover the upper surfaces thereof with a light colored material, preferably white Celluloid C. The Celluloid reiiects light upward to anyjewels which may be set in the rings displayed and displays their brilliancy to great advantage. It will be understood, however, that cloth or any other covering can be substituted for the celluloid and that no covering at all need be used.

Serial Nol 15,724. (No model.)

In order to lock the rings to the bars of the tray, I secure to the under side thereof locking devices, each of which consists of a pair of pins D and D, upon each of which is pivoted one member of two pairs of jaws. The pair of jaws E and E nearest to the bar B preferably has the adjacent edges of its members formed in straight lines. Each one of the pair of jaws F and F, which are respectively superposed upon thejaws E and E, has at one point along its inner edgea lug G and at another point along such edge a notch H, the lugs of the two jaws being opposite each other, as are also the two notches. An opening b is formed in the bar B opposite the notches H and H, such opening being inoutline like the cross-section at the bit of the key to be used. The lugs G and G have their adjacent faces inclined toward each other in a direction away from the bar, so that a tapering space is inclosed between them. An opening I is formed in the bar B opposite to the lugs G and G, and a lug or pair of lugs K and K is formed on the bar B to keep the openings between the pair of jaws in alinenient with the center of such opening I, said lugs being preferably formed of the metal displaced in forming such opening. A bridgepiece L extends across the jaws F and F and has its ends bent down and secured to the bar B, thus retaining the two pairs of jaws upon the pins D and D. Each jaw E carries a pin M, which is engaged by one end of a spring N, the latter being coiled about a pin O on the bar B and being extended beneath the bridge-piece L, where it is again coiled and has its opposite free end extended into engagement with the jaw F, which is superposed upon the said jaw E.

To the ring P, I secure a holder Q, prefer- I ably consisting of a body q, formed by bending a piece of sheet metal upon itself, leaving a space between the two sides q' and q thus formed, arc-shaped spring arms q2 and q2, connected with the upper edges of such sides, and a tongue Cf, connected with the upper edge of the metal that unites the sides q and q. I preferably connect the sides of the holder by a rivet cf, having a head projecting at each end thereof from such sides. The holder is connected to the ring by having its springarms pressed against the ring, the arms by IOO virtue of their elasticity being adapted to fit rings of various sizes and by having the tongue g3 bent over the ring and engaged with the rivet g4. The holder serves to display the entire ring and prevents the surreptitious substitution of another ring for the one belonging in the tray, and it can be used as a substitute for a marking-tag.

The key by which my lock mechanism is operated consists of a shank R, having pin fr, between the ends of which are the bits r' and fr', leaving a neck r2 between the end of the shank and the bits. An ornamental head 'r3 is preferably attached to the shank.

In the operation of my device a ring having a holderQ attached thereto is presented at the opening I, and the body of the holder is inserted in such opening until the heads of the rivet g4 have passed the jaws E and E, when the latter will spring back behind the heads of the rivet, and thus fasten the ring to the tray. As theholder-body is inserted into the opening I it acts upon the inclined surfaces of the lugs G and G, thus spreadingapart the jaws F and F and separating the notches Il and H. If it is desired to remove the ring, the key is inserted through the opening?) and is turned on its axis, its bits separating the jaws E and E and releasing the holder therefrom. The bits, also, during the described movement separate the jaws F and F until said bits are transverse to said jaws, when the notches II and II will permit the springs to throw the jaws F and F toward each other, said notches engaging the bits of the key and preventing further turning of the key. As the key is now crosswise of the slot b, it cannot be removed and must remain in the keyhole until upon the reinsertion ot' the holder between the lugs G and G the jaws F and F are again separated and the notches H and H removed from engagement with the key. It is thus provided that after a ring has once been secured by my locking device the key shall remain in the tray as an indication that a ring has been removed, and it is impossible to remove such key until the ring has been replaced. Such construction prevents the removal of more than one ring at the same time with the same key. It is designed that each salesman shall have a larger or smaller number of keys in his possession, according to his ability to safely show to customers and prevent the theft of a greater or less number of unlocked rings, and that the design or color of the keys shall be varied, so that keys of different appearance can be used upon different consecutive days, and thus prevent a thief from providing himself beforehand with a key of the kind used. To remove the ring-holder Q from the ring, the tongue Q3 is cut to permit it to be freed from the ring.

Various changes can be made in the construction I have chosen for illustration without departure from my invention. The locking mechanism can be adapted for direct engagement with a ring that is not provided with a holder. Such construction is illustrated in Figs. S and 9, wherein the ring P is engaged and held by notches r4 and r4 in jaws It' and R', and the key is locked by notchess and s in jaws S and S. The latter jaws are also provided with ears s and s', which are engaged by the ring when the latter is inserted into the mechanism, and such engagement causes the key to be released by the spreading of the jaws S and S. The locking mechanism can be put into a case, preferably cylindrical, as shown in Fig. 7, or can be attached to a separate plate and such case or plate attached to or inserted in a bar B of the display-tray. The key-locking jaws can be placed next to the bar B and the ring-locking jaws can be superposed upon said first-mentioned jaws. Such construction is illustrated in Fig. IO, wherein the key-locking jaws T and T are situated next the bar B and are provided with key-engaging notches t and t and with ears for engagement with the ring, the ears in thisinstanceextendingtowardthebarB. The ring-locking jaws U and U are provided with shoulders n and u for engagement with the ring-holder Q. One of the jaws E and E can be omitted and a single such jaw can be used to engage the ring-holder Q. The keyhole and the opening for the reception of the holder can be transposed, so that the former shall be nearer the fulcrums of the jaws and the latter shall be farther therefrom,or such openings can be located upon opposite sides of the said fulcrums. Such latter construction is illustrated in Fig. ll. The holder Q can instead of the rivet-heads be provided with horizontal grooves for engagement with the jaws E and E.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. A display-tray forjewelry, having means for locking the separate pieces of jewelry thereto, a key for unlocking such means, and means controlled by the piece of jewelry which prevents the withdrawal of the key until the piece of jewelry has been replaced, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A lock for a display-tray for j ewelry,hav ing means for locking the separate pieces of jewelry, a key for unlocking such means, means for locking the key, and meansvoperated by the piece of jewelry for releasing the key-locking means, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A lock for a display-tray for jewelry,hav ing a jaw for locking a piece of jewelry, a jaw for locking a key, such first-mentioned jaw being adapted to be opened by said key, and such last-mentioned jaw being adapted to be opened by the engagement of the piece of jewelry therewith, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. A lock for a display-tray for j ewelry,hav ing a jaw for locking a piece of jewelry, a jaw for locking a key, such last-mentioned jaw having notches to cn gage the key and prevent IOO ISO

its Withdrawal, and having an inclined surface or surfaces by the engagement of which with the piece of jewelry, said jaw is adapted to be moved to disengage the key, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. Alock for a display-trayfor jewelry, consisting of a plate having an opening therein, a jaw that normally overlies such opening, a spring tending to hold said jaw in its normal position, a second jaw having an inclined lug that normally overlies such opening, a spring tending to hold said second jaw in its normal position, in combination with a key that is adapted to move such first-mentioned jaw from over said opening, said second jaw having a part that is adapted to prevent the withdrawal of the key, and a holder for a piece of jewelry, such holder being adapted to enter the opening in the plate and to engage said inclined lug to release the key, and having a projection for engagement with such firstmentioned jaw, substantially as and for the purpose described.

G. A holder for displaying a ring, consisting of a bodyhaving means for engaging the inner surface of the ring, and having springarms that are adapted to fit against and extend along the rim of the ring, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. A holder for displaying a ring consisting of a body, spring-arms that are adapted to fit against said ring, and a tongue that is adapted to be bent over and to secure such ring in the holder, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. A holder for displaying a ring, consisting of an elongated body having a lock-engaging projection, spring-arms that are adapted to iit against said ring, and a tongue that is adapted to be bent over and to secure such ring in the holder, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In a display-rack for jewelry, the combination of a lock, and a part to cooperate therewith, adapted for attachment to a piece of jewelry, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of May, 1900.

JOSEPH I. ANG-ELL.

Vitnesses:

JAS. T. BRADY, GEO. W. WILLIS. 

